Watches & Wonders 2022 New Rolex watches
On 30 March 2022, Rolex is unveiling its latest creations: watches that shine the light of optimism and innovation on the watchmaking world. In its perpetual quest for excellence, Rolex constantly enhances the aesthetics and technologies of its emblematic timepieces. They are an invitation to push boundaries, to reach ever higher. With, as always, the same promise of outstanding quality thanks to the company’s complete, in-house mastery of watchmaking expertise.
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT
Oyster Perpetual Air-King
A tribute to explorers of the skies, the Air-King celebrates the pioneers of aviation and invites wearers to take command of their own destiny. Since 2016, the watch has had a resolutely professional appearance, with a dial inspired by aircraft instruments.
In 2022, it incorporates new features. The dial is now easier to read and more harmoniously balanced thanks to the addition of a ‘0’ before the ‘5’ on the minutes scale, while a crown guard and straight sides have also been included.
These evolutions confirm the Air-King’s place among the brand’s Professional models. Finally, the timepiece also sports a subtle line of light along the middle case – a symbol of the new horizons so often opened up by Rolex.
CHASING NEW HORIZONS
Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II
The GMT-Master was made for airborne adventure. Now the watch of choice for travellers, it connects people beyond time zones. Since its creation in 1955, the watch has accompanied some of the greatest moments in aeronautical history.
From the first intercontinental flights to world speed records and Concorde testing – feats that are human as much as they are technological find echo in the GMT-Master II with the crown on the left. This new version of the timepiece is an innovation for the range.
It required moving the winding crown to the left side of the watch case and the date aperture to 9 o’clock, as well as modifying the date disc – adjustments that also led to changes in the precision testing process carried out during final controls.
The Cerachrom bezel insert is in green and black, an original colour combination that is exclusive to this watch. A watch whose appearance is always up to date, the GMT-Master II once again confirms its contemporary appeal with changes that illustrate Rolex’s drive for aesthetic and technical excellence.
THE BOLDEST COURSE
Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 40
The Day-Date has always epitomized prestige and innovation. Exclusively made from precious metals, it was the first calendar wristwatch to indicate, in addition to the date, the day of the week spelt out in full in a window on the dial.
The Day-Date 40 in platinum is now available with a fluted bezel in the same material – the noblest of metals. This aesthetic and technical feat required many years of research and development, as platinum is challenging to work with.
The process of creating the fluting, which was initially meant for gold, had to be adapted in order to manufacture the bezel. A reflection of Rolex’s perfectionism, the new Day-Date 40 gleams brightly, exemplifying one of the brand’s key ideals: to master materials in order to make better progress.
GLOWING WITH NEW BRILLIANCE
Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42
A new jewel shines on the surface of the sea: for the first time, the Yacht-Master 42 is available in yellow gold – an inspired and original refinement to the emblematic sailing timepiece that in no way alters its course.
This 18 ct gold alloy is unique. Created and cast at the brand’s foundry in Geneva, Switzerland, it offers unparalleled resistance, making the new Yacht-Master 42, fitted with an Oysterflex bracelet, an unbeatable ally on the open seas.
A CLASSIC, REIMAGINED
Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31
A splash of colour. A poetic shimmer. A sense of renewal. The dials that decorate the new Datejust 31 are bursting with fresh energy and full of promise.
With its three different finishes – sunray, matt and grained – the floral motif springs to life in the light. It is available in three colours: azzurro blue, olive green and silver. The pieces are shining examples of refined dial-making expertise, requiring high-technology finishing techniques.
The textural effects are further enhanced by diamonds of varying sizes, which call to mind dewdrops illuminating the centre of the flowers. A timeless model whose style has often evolved, the Datejust once again proves its contemporary appeal. Resplendent and sparkling, these new floral-motif dials appear enlivened with movement, offering a different perspective on the cycle of the seasons.
CAPTURING LIGHT
Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 40
Where the sky meets the ocean and the sun comes up over water, the air is momentarily rippled with colour. The new Yacht-Master 40 harnesses these fleeting instants so they can be admired on the wrist.
The bezel, set with diamonds and sapphires in tones of blue, silver and pink, is inspired by the aurora borealis and the glow of dawn. The precise sequence of five colours is repeated eight times: pink sapphire, light blue sapphire, diamond, purple sapphire and dark blue sapphire.
The palette of hues is accentuated by the 46 diamonds that adorn the lugs and crown guard. The gem-setting on the new Yacht-Master 40 uses expertise that makes the most of the gems’ full radiance. This allows for creativity, opening up new possibilities and enabling a pure, clean aesthetic.
An unrivalled reputation for quality and expertise
Rolex is an integrated and independent Swiss watch manufacture. Headquartered in Geneva, the brand is recognized the world over for its expertise and the quality of its products – symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. The movements of its Oyster Perpetual and Cellini watches are certified by COSC, then tested in-house for their precision, performance and reliability. The Superlative Chronometer certification, symbolized by the green seal, confirms that each watch has successfully undergone tests conducted by Rolex in its own laboratories according to its own criteria. These are periodically validated by an independent external organization.
The word ‘Perpetual’ is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster watch. But more than just a word on a dial, it is a philosophy that embodies the company’s vision and values. Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the company, instilled a notion of perpetual excellence that would drive the company forward. This led Rolex to pioneer the development of the wristwatch and numerous major watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism, invented in 1931. In the course of its history, Rolex has registered over 500 patents. At its four sites in Switzerland, the brand designs, develops and produces the majority of its watch components, from the casting of the gold alloys to the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. Furthermore, the brand is actively involved in supporting the arts and culture, sport and exploration, as well as those who are devising solutions to preserve the planet.
